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Week of events celebrates Bluffton
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Festival Schedule
THE SCHEDULE
Oct. 18
- Blessing of the fleet, gospel music and boat parade at Church of the Cross at 2 p.m.
Oct. 19
- Lunch and Learn tour of Waddell Mariculture Center and Bluffton Oyster Company seafood lunch from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost: $25.
Oct. 20
- Kayak tours of the May River from 3 to 6 p.m. starting at the Bluffton Oyster Company. Cost: $50, including kayak rental.
Oct. 21
- Mary Alice Monroe discusses her latest book, Last Light Over Carolina, 6 p.m. at Seven Oaks.
Oct. 22
- 5K Run/Health Walk pre-registration party at 5:30 p.m. at Oscar J. Frazier Park.
Oct. 23
- Pop an Oyster with Champagne Dine Around Town from 7 to 10 p.m. Special tapas menus at May River Grill, Capt. Woody's, Corks, Bluffton BBQ and The Dispensary.
Oct. 24
- 5K Run/Health Walk at 8:30 a.m. Fee: $35.
- Children's Fishing Tournament 10 a.m. at Bluffton Oyster Company.
- Art and Seafood Street Fest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in old town Bluffton.
- Iron Chef Challenge from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Carson Cottages.
- Boat tours of May River every hour and a half starting at 11 a.m. from Calhoun Street Dock. Cost: $20.
- Rockin' On The Dock from 5:30 p.m. to dusk at Bluffton Oyster Company. Music by B-Town Playaz.
Oct. 25
- Art and Seafood Street Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in old town Bluffton.
The Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival is designed to represent what Bluffton represents.
The week's worth of events features seafood straight from the May River and art from old town artists.
And since the river is such an important part of Bluffton's identity, the festival showcases educational programs and fundraisers to protect the ecology of the area.
"We want to make it fun," said Mary O'Neill, a coordinator for the event. "But it's also about the river. Everything we're doing is to focus on the importance of protecting the May River."
WHY GO
The festival kicks off with the blessing of the fleet at the annual May River boat parade Sunday and doesn't stop until the last painting is sold and the last note is played the following Sunday. The highlight is the Art and Seafood Street Fest in historic Bluffton featuring music, art, seafood and more Oct. 24 and 25. But activities are held every day through the week, from kayak tours of the river to a book signing with author Mary Alice Monroe.
WHAT'S NEW
The festival is only five years old but continues to grow each year and add new events.
• Local and national artists will be holding demonstrations at seven old town galleries from Monday through Friday leading up to the open air art market the following weekend.
• The Pop an Oyster with Champagne Dine Around Town features a special tapas menu at five Bluffton restaurants Oct. 23.
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